IDOC Launches “Journey to Success” Educational Portal for Incarcerated Individuals (Springfield, IL) – The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) has introduced a new digital learning initiative aimed at expanding educational access for individuals in custody, officials announced.
The program, called “Journey to Success,” is a customized educational content portal now available on tablets across IDOC facilities. The portal is housed within the Edovo application, a widely used learning platform for incarcerated individuals nationwide that offers thousands of free courses and resources.
Since Edovo became available on IDOC tablets in July 2025, usage has surged. According to the department, more than 31,000 individuals have engaged with the platform, completing over 352,000 courses and logging more than 2.3 million hours of learning across 2.4 million educational activities. Popular courses include Parenting While Incarcerated, Preparing for Success After Prison, and Beginning Algebra.
The newly launched Journey to Success portal builds on that foundation by offering content specifically curated by IDOC program staff. Current offerings include re-entry planning materials, legal resources, and health education content, with plans to expand the catalog over time. Officials say the portal is designed to complement, not replace, in-person programming by providing around-the-clock access to learning tools.
“Journey to Success represents the best of what we can accomplish when we pair innovation with our commitment to rehabilitation,” said IDOC Director Latoya Hughes. “This portal broadens access to trusted information and learning resources while reinforcing the critical work of our educators, program staff, and community partners.”
The portal’s name was selected through a collaborative process involving both staff and incarcerated individuals. More than 5,000 name submissions were reviewed by a panel of corrections leaders and partner organizations, including the Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice and the John Howard Association. After a final vote that drew more than 5,000 participants, “Journey to Success” emerged as the winning entry — submitted by an individual in custody.
Jason Hoots, a participant at Hill Correctional Center, said the platform has had a meaningful personal impact.
“Edovo has helped me become a better person,” Hoots said. “It has impacted my relationships with others and made me a better peer mentor.”
Educators within the system also welcomed the added resource. Amanda Gates, an educator at Big Muddy Correctional Center, said the technology enhances classroom instruction by allowing learners to review materials independently.
The portal includes a variety of practical resources, such as the Mapping Your Future re-entry guides, workforce and mental health service information, the Illinois Blue Book, driver’s license reinstatement guidance, and the Illinois CDL Study Guide. Health education videos developed by Southern Illinois University’s School of Medicine are also available.
The initiative is part of a broader rollout of ICSolutions tablets that began in February 2025. In addition to educational tools, the tablets support communication features, including phone access and a pilot program offering no-cost calls for individuals in custody.
IDOC officials say these efforts are intended to strengthen family connections while expanding access to educational and rehabilitative resources, helping prepare individuals for successful reentry into society.
IDOC Launches “Journey to Success” Educational Portal for Incarcerated Individuals
